Midlands & East Anglia

Carvers Building Supplies

Carvers Review

Carvers were established in 1896 as a builders’ merchant in Wolverhampton, West Midlands and are still operating more than 115 years later.

Carvers supply a plethora of building supplies to customers throughout the Midlands operating from two impressive 10 acre sites; The Littles Lane and The Neachells Lane site.

The firm employs over 200 staff and is still run by the same family as they were originally. Over the years the company has continued to trade as builders’ merchants but have also expanded into timber merchanting and bottled gas distribution.

In addition Carvers has established a tool hire centre, where builders can get everything they require for a specific project. The builders’ merchant business now includes specialist bathroom and kitchen departments which also plan the kitchens and bathrooms for clients, as well as fitting them.

Carvers Wolverhampton are constantly striving to meet the changing demands of their customers by adding new product ranges to their extensive product portfolio. To this end the firm has recently added hot tubs and oak flooring to their portfolio. Another of the company’s assets include a wide range of delivery lorries, which they both won and operate. They have an extensive array to suit most access restrictions and product requirements, including bulk site deliveries.

The firm pride themselves on being heavily involved in many community events in Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas. The highest profile of these events has been their sponsorship of the Wolverhampton Marathon which raises over ÂŁ20,000 every year.

The builder’s merchants stock a plethora of building materials for clients including bathrooms, kitchens, construction materials, decorating, doors, frames, hardware, ironmongery, landscaping, plumbing and heating, timber and tools.

Operating standards are extremely important to Carvers, they are ISO 9001 Quality Management approved. The team is also committed to achieving BS OHSAS18001 for Health & Safety Management and ISO 14001 for Environmental Management. In addition they have very strong policies regarding equal opportunities for all employees, business ethics and training standards.

The company has experienced numerous challenges due to the economic downturn but has managed to stay afloat. Despite the difficult trading circumstances continue to look for opportunities to develop in the wider building supplies industry. In late 2008 Timber Kit Solutions was established, a specialist timber frame manufacturing business in which Carvers have a 50 per cent share; this is illustrative of the firm’s commitment to investing in the building industry.

Carvers have also proved their resilience after they returned to the building industry stronger than ever after a devastating fire tore through the company’s buildings back in 2012, destroying over 116 years of history.  The following day Managing Director Henry Carver said that the firm would regroup and rebuild and since then the team have been true to their word.

 

Carvers are especially committed to the environment and have developed their own Environmental Policy which ensures they continually review all their activities with regard to their effect on the environment. The firm also, wherever possible, use recycled packaging material and reduce waste from packaging as well as actively seeking to ensure all waste packaging materials and waste consumables are sent for recycling at the end of their life.

The firm’s environmental aims also include the continuous review all operations which produce Carbon Dioxide to ensure the level of Carbon Dioxide omitted is kept to a minimum. The firm also encourages their customers to use materials which have the least adverse impact on the environment.

Another aspect of the firm’s environmental policy includes giving preference to members of their supply base who ensure timber is grown and harvested in sustainable, managed forests. Such sustainability is being recognised by being approved by a CPET approved Timber Chain of Custody audit body; Carvers therefore encourage all members of their timber supply chain to join a suitable CPET approved scheme.

Where Carvers’ processes require the use of chemicals, which either are or have the potential to be harmful to the environment the firm take all steps to ensure that the environmental impact is minimised. Also all plant and machinery when purchased by Carvers is evaluated for its environmental impact, and where economically viable the item of plant or machinery which will cause the least amount of environmental impact shall be favoured.

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Roma Publications